Foster Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on "Notario" Fraud

Statement

Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) announced introduction of the Protecting Immigrants from Legal Exploitation Act. The legislation would create penalties for those who provide fraudulent immigration legal services; allow immigrants who are victims of fraud to have their cases reconsidered under certain circumstances; and create grant programs to educate immigrants on how to avoid legal service fraud and to assist qualified non-profit organizations in providing immigrants with legal services.

Fraudulent immigration services have not been effectively curbed by existing federal, state, and local efforts. In many Latin American countries "notario" or "notario público" refers to state-appointed lawyers. However, in the United States, a notary only has the authority to witness and certify legal documents. This linguistic discrepancy can expose many recent immigrants, particularly those from Latin American countries, to the risk of fraudulent immigration legal services.

"It's an unfortunate reality that immigrants are often exploited by fraudsters when they seek legal services," Foster said. "Not only do "notarios' exploit immigrants for money, but their fraudulent services can result in well-meaning immigrants being deported and unable to return legally. We must take action to stop these predators from exploiting vulnerable immigrants who are trying to play by the rules of our immigration system."

"Fraud schemes targeting immigrant communities, particularly when it comes to those in need of legal services, have been a serious problem in almost every state in this country, including in Florida. Too often, those who knowingly prey on immigrants by taking advantage of systemic vulnerabilities--a lack of affordable legal services, the complexity of immigration laws, language barriers, and unfamiliarity with the U.S. legal system--not only interfere with individuals' right to due process, but also do not face appropriate accountability for their actions," said Rep. Ted Deutch. "This important bill will crack down on fraud schemes targeting immigrants in need of legal services, strengthen criminal penalties for people involved in those fraud schemes, and help equip immigrant communities with the tools to be aware of their rights."

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